Motor vehicle



Jun e 24, 1930. J. G. VINCENT MOTOR VEHI CLE Filed May 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l E. sul

J. G. VINCENT MOTOR VEHICLE June 24, 1930.

2 She'ets-Sheec 2 Filed May 9, 1925 talented .time 24, 1930 UNiTEDsTTi-:s

PArnnrrric JESSE GHVINCET, F iDETROI'L, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB, TO PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF D'ETRGII', MICI-IEGAN, A CGRPORATIONOF MICHIGAN `Moron vnnrcrfn Application filed May 9,

and the steering wheels of a motor vehicle,

which shall be simpler, stronger, and less expensive to manufacture than such connections nowl in use. f

Another object of the invention is to provide a steering gear and axle assembly, especially adapted for use in a -four wheel braking system, in which the brake support- "ing element shallbe securely Vclampedv between the movable partof the assembly and the steering lever arms. l A further object of the invention isto provide such a steering Vconnection which may lbe quickly and easily assembled, -disassembled and adjusted.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken' 1in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

25 j Fig. lis al view partially in elevation and partially nvertical section through a wheel and axle assembly constructed in accordance with the invention; .v

Fig. 2 is a view in section substantially on the line of 2 2 of Fig. 1, the wheel being shown in a different position than in Fig. 1; Fio'. 3 is a view inf'side elevation of the rp s exterior of the steering knuckle housing with the wheel and bearings removed; and Figs. 4 and 5 aredetail views, partially in sectionsubstantially on the lines 4--4 and 5 5 respectively of Figs. 1 and 3.

Referring to the drawings, at 10 is shown the front axle of -a motor vehicle having an upturned end portion terminating in an eye or knuckle member 11. The bore 12 of the eye 11 is somewhat inclined to the vertida-1 when the axle 10 is in its normal horizontal position, and is provided with a steering pivot pin v13 which is a tight press fit in bore, projecting above and below the eye 11. The pin 13 is provided with an integral radial flange 14, they upper face of which abuts the lower face of the eyell, thus de- '16 forming a housing outwardly 'convex in.

`cant and the entrance ofk dirt.

i325. serial No. saaie."

therein. l Y

Pivotally` mounted on the projecting extremities of the pin`13 is a knuckle member termining the axial. position of the pin section, which partially encloses the said pin and the knuckle member or eye 11. This housingfis provided with anintegral wheel -spindle 17 of the usual type, having spaced cylindrical portions -18 and 19 separated by so va tapered portion 21. The outer end ofthe spindle 17 is threaded as at 22 for the wheel retaining nuts 23. Bearing races 24t-and 26 are removably positioned on the 'cylindrical spindle portions 18 and 19 respectively and -co-op'erate with bearing members 27 and 28,

vwhich are preferably of the taper-.roller or other suitable anti-friction type;A The-bearing members 27 and 28 Vco-opei'ate respectively with outer bearing races 29 and 31, which are suitably secured in 'a hubmember 32 of .the vehicle wheel 33. A ring 30-may be axially secured between the yinner bearing abutment 24 and the outer face of the member 16 and arranged to carry the usualfelt 'washerV which co-acts Vwith the rotatable wheel hub 32 to prevent the escape of lubri- As the bearing construction just described is' well .known in the art to which this invention reso lates, furtherV description thereof is deemed f unnecessary. Y. v l

The "hub member 32 is threaded at its outer end to `removably secure thereto al suitable hub cap 34, adapted to enclose and prol tect the outer end of the spindle 21 andits retaining nuts 23 in the well known manner. The hub member 32 is also provided, intermediate its ends, with a radially disposed liiange36, adapted for the attachment of the vehicle-wheel 33. In the embodiment herein described, this'wheel 33V comprises `a disk37 of steel or other suitable material, provided at itscenter with ahole 38 adapted to pass overthe outer end of the hub 32, and having an annular face adjacent `the hole v38 adapted to lit againstl'a co-ope'rating face 39 on the liange L36. Thisy flange 36 is provided with a row of axially ydisposed holes lil which are threaded for co-operation with )1.99

at intervals to form lugs 48, and having an.

' inwardly disposed plane face 49 which is vdrum 54 in the well known manner;

adapted for contact with a circular brake supporting member or plate 51, arranged in -a plane normal to the axis of the wheel spindle 17. This plate 51 is provided with .a cent-rall opening 52 through which the axle vknuckle member 11 passes, and it is secured to the lugs 48 at the mid portion of the flange by suitable bolts 53. The periphery ofthe plate 51 is arranged to lie just within the edge of a brake drum 54,-ot' the usual dished construction, on the inner circumferential surface of which suitable brake shoes 56, having friction lining 57, are adapted to bear in the usual manner to. retard the vehicle. The brake'shoes 56 are pivoted in any suitablemanner (not shown) to a lug 58, riveted or otherwise rigidly attached to the brake plate and are adapted to be oscillatedon their pivot by any appropriate mechanism into engagement with the In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, a hydraulic cylinder, indicated at 59 as mounted on the plate 51, is adapted to actuate the shoes 56, but itis to be understood that cams, toggles, levers or other well known mechanism may be used in place of the hydraulically actuated mechanism 59. The brake drum 54 has an annular face 61 adapted to bear against a shoulder 62 on the inner side of the hub flange 36 and is adapted to be removably secured thereto, preferably by the same bolts 42 which secure the wheel disk 37 to the hub.

The housing 16 has a'lower portion 63 of cup-shaped conguration adapted to completely surround the downwardly projecting end of the pin 13 below the flange 14 thereof. The portion 63 is provided with a suitable bore 64 in which is mounted a bushing 66 adapted to directly engage the pin 13. The lower part of the bore 64 is adapted to receive a suitable thrust block 67, which is mounted for adjustment axially ol the bore 64 in any convenient manner, as by means of the screw 68. rlhe block 67 is adapted to co-act with the lower end 69 of the pin 13, to transmit to the housing 16, and subsequently through the hub 32,' the wheel 37, and the tire 46, the downward thrust of the axle 10 resulting from the weight of the motor vehicle and its body.- To this end the block 67 is provided with a concave upper surface adapted to co-operate with a corresponding convex lower end of the pin 13. A suitable lubricant retaining washer 70 may be secured between the upper face of the portion .63 and the lower face of the eye 11.

The upper portion of the housing 16 is adapted to partially surround a bearing member 69', having a plane inner face 7l which is clamped againstV theplate 51. A slight clearance lis provided between the upper knuckle housing portion and the member 69', the latter being arranged to receive t-he upper end of the pin 10. Adjustment of' the bearing member 69 axially of the pin 13 is provided by a plate or washer 72 arranged between the lower face of this bearing member and the -upper face of the knuckle member 11, suitable shims 73 being inserted between the plate 72 and the member 11. The plate is prevented from oscillation with respect to the axle in any convenient way, as by dowelling it to the member 11. It will be understood that the .inclination of the wheel with respect to its steering pivot may bevvaried somewhat by changing the axial position oi the member 69 on the pin 13, the surface 71 of the bearing member constituting a wedged adjustment for this purpose.V Acap 75 may be secured in the upper end of the bore of the member V69 to prevent leakage of lubricant lfrom the lubricant ducts provided in the pin and in the bearings, and to prevent .the entrance of dust and dirt. Y,

The knuckle member 16 is provided near vits upper end with a steering lever arm -74,

having a base portion 76 formed with laterally disposed lugs 77. The inner face 78 ot' the base portion of the lever is adapted kto seat against the brake supporting plate -51 at a point opposite the attachment thereto of the bearing member 69. Suitable bolts 79 pass through the lugs 77, the plate 51, lugs 81 formed on the bearingmember 69 and lugs 82 formed on the upperportion of the housing 16, rigidly clamping these members together. The other end of the lever arm 74 is provided with a ball pivot 83, arranged on a studv 84 which is mounted in an eye 86 at the end of the lever. The ball pivot 83 co-acts with a steering drag link 87 which is actuated from the vehicle steering gear in the well known manner.

The lower portion 63 of the'housing 16 is provided with suitable lugs or ears 88 in which are mounted bolts 89, which pass through the brake supporting plate 51. These bolts 89 also pass through a steering lever arm 91, having an inner Vface 92 adapted to bear against and be clamped to the plate 51. In this way the lower portion of the housing 16 is rigidly clamped both `to the brake plate 51 and to the arms 91. The outer portion of each of the arms 91 is prollO vided with a suitable eye 93 by means of which they may be connected by the usual tie-rod (not shown) so that the front wheels 37 of the vehicle may be turned together on their pivots. A. stop screw 941, mounted in a suitable lug 96 in the web portion of the axle 10 may be used to limit the arc through which the wheels may be swung on their pivots, the head of this screw being adapted to contact the plate 51 and the housing 16 when the wheels are swung into hard-over position, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

As previously mentioned the pivot pin 10 and the arms 74 and 91 are provided with suitable lubricant passages which are connected to each other and to the various bearings of these members by appropriate ports and ducts, so that lubricant introduced at one point of the system will be "communicated thereto to all the associated bearings in a manner well understood in the art of this invention.

Disassembly of the steering structure provided by this invention can be quickly and l l easily effected after disconnection of the brake-operating means, by removal of the bolts 53, 7 9 and 89, it being understood that the axle 10 is jacked up or otherwise suitably supported to take the weight of the vehicle. The brake plate 51 may then be swunginwardly over the axle, and the bearing member 69 may be lifted off` the upper end of the pivot pin 13, this operation being expedited by reason of the clearance between these members. The lower portion 63 of the housing may thenbe lowered from the downwardly projecting end of the pin 13, or the axle and pin may be raised upwardly out of this member.

It will be evident that the elements of this steering connection aresimple in structure and are easily machined; the device thus provided being strong as well as inexpensive to manufacture.

It will be understood that various forms of the invention other than those described above may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

lVha-t is claimed is:

l. The combination in a motor vehicle having wheels, an axle and an inclined pin rigidly secured in each end thereof, of a bearing on each pin above and below'the axle, a housing connecting the bearings and adapted for support by the vehicle wheel, and a brake supporting plate securedl to the housing, the upper bearing being clamped between said housing and plate.

2. The combination in a motor vehicle having an axle, of a pivot pin rigidly secured in each end of said axle and projectinof above and below the same, bearings for the upper and lower portion of each pin, a housing `having a cup-shaped portion to enclose the lower bearing, said portion having thrust absorbing means for the pin,fand a brake 4'supporting plate secured to said housing, the said upper bearing being clamped between thexhousing and saidvplate; w, 7. x 1

@3.1The combination in va motor Vehicle having.. an axle, of a' pivot fpin rigidly secured in each end of said axle and projecting above and below the same, bearings for the upper and lower projecting portion Iof each. pin, a housing `having an integral` wheelV spindle, a socket on ,the housing to receive thellower bearing, a brake supporting plate, andmeans'for removably secur Ving saidupper bearing between said plate and .said housing.

- l. The combinationrin av niotorivehicle having an axle and a wheel supporting saidraxle, of. a pivotlpin fixed in said axle, a knuckle member having an integral wheel spindle, bearings for the pin, a brake supporting plate, means clamping one of the bearings betweenthe knuckle member and said plate, and a socket for the vother bearing.

, 5; The combination in a motor Vvehicle having an axle and a wheel supporting said axle, of a pivot pin on said axle, a knuckle member having bearings rotatably mounted on said pin, a plate, means including arms for swinging the knuckle'member and the.

to enclose the lower part of the pin and to partially enclose the upper part thereof, a vertical plate adjacent said knuckle member, a bearing on the upper portion of the pin `secured between the said member and the plate, and means removably securing the lower portion of said member tothe plate.

8. The combination 'in a motor vehicle having an axle with an inclined pivot pin therein, of a knuckle member adapted to partially enclose the pin, a plate removably secured to the knuckle member, and a bearing member for said pin, adjustable axially thereon adapted to be clamped between said knuckle member and said plate.

9. The combination in a motor vehicle having an axle, of an inclined pivot pin in the end thereof, a knuckle member adapted y to partially enclose the pin, a plate adjacent the knuckle member disposed at an angle to vsaid pin, a bearing member surrounding theeupper part of the pin and adjustable axially thereof, saidbearing member 'having a face engaging said plate, and means clamping the bearing member in kadjusted vposition between the knuckle member and said plate. A

10. The combination in a motor vehicle having an axle With an inclined pivot pin, of a plate adjacent said pin andV having an -opening through Which the axle projects, a dished knuckle member (zo-operating With the plate to surround the pin, and bearings on said pin between the plate and the knuckle member.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

JESSE G. VINCENT. 

